Breakfast Hola 早餐好了

Our breakfast has gone Taiwanese again! Breakfast Hola is located next to the popular tourist spot, Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Museum.

Next to Buddha Tooth Relic Temple

There was already a queue lining up when we reached.

Facade of Breakfast Hola

Customers were seated on the sides of the wall and space was rather limited. Furnishings were simple without too much elaboration on the Taiwanese culture. 

Dining

On the Wall

Besides the menu on the table, there is an enlarged version hanging on the wall next to the payment counter.

Menu

While their noodles and rice items are only available after 10am, we took the chance to order the Taiwanese Staple Braised Pork Rice. The braised taste was decent with the use of ground pork instead and the fluffy rice coupled with some slices of cucumber. However, while we were expecting the norm with braised egg served, we were given a fried egg instead. 

Authentic Taiwanese Braised Pork Rice 古早味肉燥饭 - $6.80 (Big)

Going into our 2nd dish, the noodles come with a choice of Black Pepper or Mushroom sauce and we had added grill pork for another $2. The noodle was a disappointment to us and tasted like overcooked spaghetti tossed with some light button mushroom sauce and topped a with fried egg.

Taiwanese Mushroom Sauce Teppanyaki 蘑菇酱铁板面 - $5.80 + $2

While we were thinking along the line of some Teppanyaki meat, we were wrong. The grilled pork was charred, tender and decent.

Additional Grilled Pork 烧肉 - $2

The beverages accompanying our breakfast order were：

(1) Good Morning Coffee 早安咖啡 - $2.50 (Hot)

(2) Good Morning Milk Tea 早安奶茶 - $2.50 (Hot) & $2.80 (Cold)

(3) Black Tea Milk 红茶牛奶 - $4.80 (Cold)

Comparing Good Morning Milk Tea and Black Tea Milk, the former has a stronger tea taste and is also my preferred choice.

Beverages 

The Taiwanese handmade egg crepe roll is perhaps one of the popular orders in Breakfast Hola. The Pork Floss Crepe Roll is listed as a recommended item on their menu. One can opt for whole wheat crepe for an additional dollar. The crepe was soft and chewy encased with pork floss but I still feel that it will be better if there is a more eggy flavour. 

Handmade Egg Crepe Roll (Pork Floss) 手工蛋饼（肉松）- $5.90

We ordered their ham version too. The soft and chewy crepe texture was similar.

Handmade Egg Crepe Roll (Ham) 手工蛋饼 （火腿） - $5.90

Overall, I find that their Crepe was decent only.

Ham in Taiwanese Crepe

While browsing through the recommended Toast section, we took the first option on the list. I was pretty disappointed as I thought my toast would have real strawberries.

Strawberry & Egg 草莓蛋 - $4.80

The toast was the simplest version of all, 2 thick slices of toast with sweet strawberry jam spread coupled with some fried egg and lettuce. Perhaps it was me that had expected too much. 

A peep into Strawberry & Egg Toast

Their toast was simple preparation and it will be better if they can be cut into halves for sharing.

Bacon Egg & Peanut Butter 培跟蛋花生土司 - $5.80

Ingredients include the spread of peanut butter, bacon, egg, cucumber slices and lettuce.

A look into the Bacon Egg & Peanut Butter Toast

The last dish of the breakfast serving was the most presentable and delicious toast we had. It was served in triangular stacks with lettuce, egg, ham, tomato, peanut button spread and bacon.

Bacon & Peanut Butter Club 培跟花生总汇 - $7.90

Compared to the last Taiwanese breakfast we had in Cuppage, I will give my vote to that. Though the service is friendly, it's sad to say that the food here does not remind me of breakfast in Taiwan. 

Rating: 3 / 5

Breakfast Hola 早餐好了 
Location: 280 South Bridge Rd, Singapore 058829

Pong Cheer Cheer Thai Food

When it comes to Thai Food, we will automatically think of Pineapple fried rice, Phad Thai for example. Nestled in the Industrial Area in Defu Lane. Upon seeing their business name "Pong Cheer Cheer", it kind of sounded like a quirky name to me even though I have no idea the meaning behind it.

Stall of Pong Cheer Cheer Thai Food

Besides the speciality of serving Thai Kway Chap and their braised Pork Trotter rice, they are also selling Thai Style Minced Chicken Rice as well as Thai Style Lap Cheong Rice. For sides, you get to see Thai Fish Cakes, Pandan Chicken and Thai Style Chicken Feet Salad etc.

What's on the menu?

As a braised food lover, I was kind of impressed by the 4 sections of braised items at their stall. 

Braising in Progress

Unlike the Singaporean Style Kway Chap, The Thai Kway Chap had the ingredients all mixed within the same bowl as the Kway.

Thai Style Kway Chap - $4.50

The Thai Kway Chap has a light herby taste and contains a medley of braised pork meat, fried beancurd skin, pig's skin, and braised egg.

Ingredients on Thai Kway Chap

There were a few pieces of Pig Skin in my bowl of Kway Chap. To be honest, I like them.

Pig's Skin

This is utterly the best Thai Style Braised Pork Trotter Rice that I ever have had in Singapore. Those who had tried before will agree that this is simply to die for. At a price of $4.50, this is definitely value for money in terms of quantity as well as quality.

Thai Style Braised Pork Trotter Rice - $4.50

The meat was braised till fork tender and was flavourful with the skin literally melt in your mouth kind. It was a perfect pairing to the plate of white fluffy rice. 

Braised Tender and Soft Pork Trotter

The portion comes with a whole hard-boiled egg and thoroughly braised Tau Pok. They do serve a bowl of radish soup separately.

Braised Items on Plate

If you cannot get enough of this savoury Thai Braised Pork Trotter, you can get them in whole portions at $17 without rice.

Rating: 3.5 / 5

Pong Cheer Cheer Thai Food
Location: 4 Defu Lane 10, Singapore 539185
Nearest Station: Kovan (NE13)

Maccha House

A visit back to Maccha House after a good 7 years after our lunch nearby.

An after-meal dessert like this definitely makes one happy. The Maccha Mille Crepes with azuki topping, served with raspberry sauce, slices of mixed fruits and Maccha soft serve ice cream. 

Maccha Mille Crepes - $10.99

Maccha Mille Crepe was light in taste and topped with yummy Azuki beans, what a perfect combination.

Maccha Mille Crepe

What a savoury treat! The Maccha Tiramisu Parfait is made up of layers of kanten jelly, fresh cream, Azuki Jam, and cornflakes, topped with Maccha Tiramisu, Shiratama dumplings, chestnut and Maccha soft serve ice cream.

Maccha Tiramisu Parfait 抹茶ティラミスパフェ- $11.99

Enjoying the cup of Maccha Latte Float with a scoop of Maccha ice cream and some Shiratama rice dumplings?

Maccha Latte Float with Shiratama 白玉フロート抹茶ラテ- $7.40 (Regular)

The Maccha Shiratama & Azuki Beans Latte is just another version of Maccha Latte with Shiratama added with the Azuki Beans and fresh cream. I had this on the last visit and the large version was only $6.90 and now it's $7.40 for the regular size.

Maccha Shiratama & Azuki Beans Latte 抹茶白玉あずきラテ - $7.40 (Regular)

---

Posted on 12 August 2015

Matcha Lovers out there, this is something that cannot be missed! If you are in Orchard, do visit the basement of Orchard Central and you will find Maccha House waiting for your patronization.

Maccha House serves Maccha treats from drinks to dessert. They also serve simple Japanese Food too. I got the chance to visit when my friends decided to have part 2 of our gathering session after our main meal at Orchard Gateway and we literally sit and chit chat there till lights were shut off and most of the staff were preparing to end there work.

Maccha House

We can never miss out on beverages especially when we are planning for a chit-chat session. I started off with my Maccha Shiratama (Rice Dumplings) & Azuki bean (Red Beans) latte. The first sip had concluded the standard in Maccha House and they are definitely not open for the sake of the vibe. As compared to those Green Tea Latte served in coffee joints and St Marc Cafe, this gave a better after taste as well as a refreshing treat. Thus I would say Happiness is a cup of wonderful Maccha Latte.

Maccha Shiratama & Azuki Beans Latte - $6.90 (Large)

Maccha Latte Float is another variation of their Latte drinks. It has a very good Maccha Scent and was not too creamy. Looking straight and into its kitchen, i learned that the amount of Maccha used were measured precisely by the kitchen helpers and every cup of it was served at its best condition.

Matcha Latte Float - $5.90 (Large)

The girls who were not too keen on cold beverages took up the fun in preparation of the traditional Maccha. About half a table spoon of Maccha Powder was given in a bowl and all patrons has to do is to hands-on by pouring the hot water into the bowl and use the wooden stirrer to dissolve it. 

Traditional Maccha - $3.90

 Dipped into sweet ginger syrup and showered with peanut dust, I was glad that we have 1 Mochi each as the ginger syrup taste was not really my style.

Mochi

Interesting made Maccha Tiramisu hold in a little crate like container served with a cup of Hojicha. Layers of soft vanilla sponge cake with Macarpone cream cheese and spreaded evenly with Maccha Powder.

Maccha Tiramisu - $6.90

It looked so delicate that we do not bear to dig our spoon in.

Dig in the spoon

Look at the elegant twirls from the Maccha Soft Serve and its sensational texture. The combination of the ice cream served in the modern Japanese stone dish together with fruits, Azuki Beans and Shiratama was simply eye-pleasing. Smooth and cooling when it touched our tongue, there was no bitter taste from the Maccha. Instead, we were satisfied in its level of sweetness. A cup of Hojicha was provided to clear the taste in the mouth after such indulgence.

Maccha Soft Serve Anmitsu with Shiratama - $9.40

Dark Green Syrup / Coloring was also provided to enhance the plain green soft serve. Just look at the color contrast from the green, have it enticed you yet?

Let it flow!

Maccha House is a good place in Orchard to gather for some snacks or desserts after a big meal in Orchard. It is rather popular as I observed the crowd as well as the turn over is fast. I would not mind bringing my friends here after dining or shopping in Orchard.

Rating: 3.5 / 5

Maccha House
Location: Orchard Central, 181 Orchard Road #B1-40 Singapore 238896

Feng Zhen Lor Mee (Taman Jurong)

I noticed that Feng Zhen Lor Mee has been aggressively expanding across Singapore and it was made known that the Yew Tee and Taman Jurong versions of Feng Zhen Lor Mee is manned differently by relatives in case you are as confused. Just recently on the 5th of July, Feng Zhen Lor Mee (Taman Jurong) has opened another outlet in Bukit Batok which is about 5 minutes away from Bukit Gombak MRT.

Stall of Feng Zhen Lor Mee (Taman Jurong) in Bukit Batok

While I prefer to go for originality, I opted for the Traditional Lor Mee comprising of fish cake, braised pork belly, half hard-boiled egg and meatballs. I was excited to have the bowl of Lor Mee initially but my excitement died down as I took a mouthful of the braised gravy. It was lacking flavours and oomph. The taste was nothing familiar to what I had in Taman Jurong. 

Traditional Lor Mee 传统卤面 - $4 (Small) 

While the handmade fried Meat Ball was what left a good impression on the Taman Jurong Lor Mee Stall on Yung Sheng Road that I had over the years. The bowl of Traditional Lor Mee has 2 of it.

Fried Meat Ball

Following the Taman Jurong Style, the Fish Lor Mee comes with flaky pieces of fried Batang fish, fishcake, and half hard-boiled a egg as the ingredients.

Fish Lor Mee 全鱼卤面 - $6

Having tasted the Yew Tee Feng Zhen Lor Mee version recently, I would say that the style and braised gravy are of vast difference. If you have tried both the Yew Tee and Taman Jurong versions too, which do you prefer?

Rating: 3 / 5

Feng Zhen Lor Mee (Taman Jurong)
Location: 373 Bukit Batok Street 31, Singapore 650373
Nearest Station: Bukit Gombak (NS3)

Jin Xi Lai (Mui Siong) Minced Meat Noodles [Closed]

The thought of going to Jin Xi Lai (Mui Siong) has always been in my mind after my visit to Johor Road Boon Kee Pork Porridge & Victor Famous Fried Chicken Wing Rice & Hainanese Chicken Rice in Veerasamy Road. They are doing well and have expanded to Tampines, Bukit Merah and even Beauty World area. 

This stall has been highly raved by a lot of BCM (Bak Chor Mee) Fans and is known for their liver slices. Moreover, they received a 4.4 rating on google review for the stall in Veerasamy Road.

Stall of Jin Xi Lai (Mui Song) Minced Meat Noodle at Toh Yi  

Besides just BCM and Pork Liver noodles, if you prefer to have other noodles like Handmade Fishball or Special Meat Ball Noodles, its available too.

Menu in a view

We went ahead with their Signature Minced Meat Noodles topping up to a bigger portion and that comprised of fishball, meatballs, minced meat, livers and pork slices.

Signature Minced Meat Noodle - $4.80 + $1 + $1.30

Being adventurous, we ordered the Pork Liver Noodles and wanted to taste 

Pork Liver Noodle - $5 (Small)

I wanted to opt for Mee Sua initially but too bad, it was sold out. The taste of noodle (Mee Kia) was rather ordinary toss with chilli sauce and topped with beansprouts, both type of spring onions. I find that the taste was lacking some kind of punch in it and has more room for improvement.

Mee Kia Dry

Nonetheless, the star of the dish called it all here. The soup was robust filled with natural sweetness from the meat and generous amount of Pork Liver were "Swimming" in the bowl.

Pork Liver Slices

While many of the BCM stalls tend to overcook the liver slices, resulting in tough and dry pieces of it, Jin Xi Lai (Mui Siong) has managed to cook them well skillfully.

Pork Liver Slices from Jin Xi Lai (Mui Siong)

Even with the slices of Pork Liver soaked in the soup for quite sometime, the perfect texture had amazed me. It was not rubbery and was absolutely tender, totally out of my expectation. The softness and creamy texture were impressive.

Thick Cut of Pork Liver

For Pork Liver lovers, I bet you will not want to miss out having such perfect texture from Jin Xi Lai (Mui Siong).

Rating: 3.25 / 5

Jin Xi Lai (Mui Siong)
Location: 7th Mile Coffeeshop, 18 Toh Yi Drive, #01-97, Singapore 590018
Nearest Station: Beauty World (DT5)

Wan Xin Mala Xiang Guo

Was introduced to Wan Xin Mala Xiang Guo (MLXG) by a regular here. I am never a fan of MLXG but having such food once in a while is a thrill with the level of spiciness and the peppercorns that make the tongue kind of numb.

Wan Xin Mala Xiang Guo

Occupying 2 units of shop space, I find that the place was spacious with ample of walkways. 

Marble Tables

The use of rectangular and circle Marble Top table and wooden stools / chairs make the place so welcoming

Furnishing of Wan Xin Mala Xiang Guo

There are both indoor and outdoor seatings but the latter is rather limited, along the corridor of the shophouse.

Dining Area over at the next unit

There are a good selection of MLXG items for us to choose from and patrons are simply spoilt for choices. In fact there are 3 big refrigerators that we can pick our items from. 

Besides MLXG, Wan Xin also offers other specialised dishes like Chong Qing Grilled Fish, Spicy Chicken, Spicy Prawns Etc. Since we do not have too much stomach space, we decided to have just MLXG alone for dinner.

Fridge for Items

We picked a wide variety of items, chives, cucumber, mushrooms, seaweed, sausage, beancurd skin, chicken meat, meatballs, celery, lotus, bamboo shoot. potato slice, vegetables noodles etc. These items sum up to about $33.40 for 2 pax.

Items for MLXG

Though we order small spiciness, the level of spice seemed to be higher than what was expected. Nevertheless, our serving of MLXG was fragrant, stir fried with dried chilli, pepper corns and topped with roasted peanuts as well as Chinese parsley.

 

Our Order

There are a number of Wan Xin MLXG outlets around and if you are thinking to eat at the comfort of your place, they are on deliver platforms too and you can get them deliver to your doorsteps with according to your selected schedule.

Rating: 3.25 / 5

Wan Xin Mala Xiang Guo
Location: 1006 Upper Serangoon Rd, Singapore 534744
Nearest Station: Kovan (NE13)